BATMAN/SUPERMAN WORLD’S FINEST #27 DC COMICS
Just a quick heads up that this series continues to give us classic DC readers what we want to read! Cameos galore! A surprizing cliffhanger! And an Aquaman with both hands! You really should be checking this title out! 10 out of 10 Grahams.
CRISIS ON INFINITE EARTHS #2 FACSIMILE EDITION
Once again, these facsimile editions show modern audiences what can be done in the realm of comics. An overwhelming project spearheaded by such geniuses as Marv Wolfman, George Perez, & Dick Giordano. And the uncredited DC historians who provided such character cameos as Anthro and Kamandi. While hard to top the gut-renching scenes in issue one with the Crime Syndicate attacking a wall of anti-matter to meet a horrible death, issue two gave us our initial team of world-saviors, shadow demons that burn with a touch and would later in the series cause characters to explode, and Barry Allen disintergrating right before our eyes! Plans are made, traitors are revealed, and somebody takes out the Guardians of the Universe! And while it is a bit of a mystery as to why issue two got the facsimile treatment, it doesn’t matter to me. With a title based on the JLA/JSA teamup stories of the 1960’s and 1970’s, you knew it was bound to be good. Unfortunately, it created a whole mess of continuity issues that still haven’t been straightened out. Even after the absurd amount of reboots to DC continuity. 9 out of 10 Grahams.
MILITARY COMICS #1 DC/QUALITY COMICS
In May of 1941, then publisher Quality Comics (home to Smash Comics, Crack Comics, Police Comics, Hit Comics, etc. all under the watchful eye of publisher “Busy” Arnold) started up a comic that was targeted to telling stories involving the Army and Navy. So it is rather ironic that the cover lead for the entirety of its 102 issue run (including when the title changed to Modern Comics after issue #43) would be a flyer by the name of Blackhawk. But as this was the early days of comic books, Military was an anthology of multiple stories and characters including Miss America, the Blue Tracer, Archie Atkins, Yankee Eagle (a real eagle!), Q-Boat Captain Foghorn, and most notable the Death Patrol. Who’s ranks changed from issue to issue as cast members died on mission like an early version of the Suicide Squad. The first to fall was Peewee the Forger. Did I mention that the members of the Death Squad were all wanted criminals. And while the art style is a bit primative for modern readers, no one can complain about the planes flying in formation or the detail on the battleship home of the Yankee Eagle. This was a time where anyone or anything could be a hero. 10 out of 10 Grahams.
ROOK EXODUS #2 GHOST MACHINE
Can the world of Rook be saved? Rook doesn’t think so and neither did Swine but he’s dead now. Luckily, Rook has found the part to finish his rocket. He just has to battle a giant mutant turtle for it. Cue Dire Wolf. She thinks the world can be saved. All she has to do is take out the maniac known as Ursaw and his geneticly enhanced bears. Did we mention that Ursaw is the one who killed Swine. Now, it’s a mission of vengeance. Cue the ‘dun.dun, dun’ music. A good follow up second issue from Geoff Johns, Jason, Fabok, and Brad Anderson. I give it an 8 out of 10 Grahams.
DUDLEY DAWSON AND THE FOREVER MACHINE #2
Dark Horse’s newest independant is a huge story filled with legends and science and what happens to those when they are perverted. And how can Dudley and his dog companion Daedalus stop the end of the world. Scott Snyder’s tale is mind-blowingly filled with ancient trinkets and future technology. Labyrinths and battle armor. Miniaturized Galaxy Guns and pyramids. Maze planets and Ambrosia. If you like being in the middle of an adventure and know you should have paid attention more in your Greek/Latin mythology classes and Mr. Williams physics class, team up with Dudley Datson for a great ride. 8 out of 10 Grahams.